Eleanor Laws KC

Call 1996

info@exchangechambers.co.uk

"She prosecutes and defends in high-level sexual offence cases."

Legal 500, 2016
Photo of Eleanor Laws KC

  • Recommendations

    “Has a forensic mind when it comes to pulling apart the issues in a case.” “She is an expert tactician, her legal knowledge is near unparalleled and she has a commanding court presence.”
    Chambers and Partners 2018

    “Outstanding. Astonishing performance, breath-taking cross-examination and closing speech. I would have thought the go-to silk for all sexual allegations. Brilliant.”
    Chambers and Partners 2017

    “She is regularly instructed in significant homicide cases, severe sexual offences and drugs importations. Since taking silk in 2011 she has established herself as one of the leading QCs handling sexual offence cases on circuit, and is particularly good on child exploitation cases. ‘She is a barrister of the very highest quality scoring high marks in all categories.”
    Chambers and Partners 2016

    “She has a calm manner that radiates power.”
    Chambers and Partners 2015

    “A jaw-dropping advocate.”

    “No doubt one of the best prosecutors and defenders in sexual cases.”
    Legal 500 2017

    “She prosecutes and defends in high-level sexual offence cases.”
    Legal 500 2016

    “The pre-eminent barrister for cases involving sexual misconduct.”
    Legal 500 2015

  • Publications

    Eleanor has recently published ‘The Sexual Offences Referencer’ (Oxford University Press). This book is a definitive guide to Indictments & Sentencing in sex cases dating back to 1950. It also deals with special measures, CPS charging practise, and Ancillary Orders upon conviction. The book is recommended to practitioners at the Criminal Bar Association training days on sexual offences, and also to Judges on the JSB training sessions.

Criminal

Eleanor is regularly instructed in all manner of criminal cases, in particular serious violence (including murder), serious sexual offences and drugs importations. She has considerable experience in homicide cases.

Her particular area of expertise is in the prosecution and defence of serious sexual violence and child abuse cases, involving historic allegations, abuse in children’s homes, doctors and hypnotherapists charged with sexual offences upon patients, teachers on pupils, charity workers, and persons in charge of patients at hospitals.

Eleanor was instructed in relation to four of the defendants charged in connection with the child abuse investigation at the Haut de la Garenne children’s home in Jersey. She continues to act as Specialist Advisory Counsel to Jersey Advocates in cases involving serious sexual allegations.